Story by Mthokozisi Dube
THE Zimbabwe School of Mines (ZSM) hosted a fundraising golf tournament this weekend at Bulawayo golf club as part of efforts to raise proceeds to retool ageing infrastructure at the institution.
100 golf players participated at the inaugural tournament.
After rubbing shoulders with prominent golfers and captains of industry, participating players were happy to have a clear discussion on the direction being taken by the institution in a sporting environment.
“We are happy to be playing with prominent golfers as well as captains of industry. This is a life time opportunity and above that, the sporting environment also enables us to understand what the institution stands for,” said Innocent Guvakuva, a golf player.
Another golf player Mpumelelo Phiri noted, “We are here to support the worthy cause as the business community because we feel as corporates we ought to be at the centre if institutions are pursuing noble causes.”
Zimbabwe School of Mines Principal, Edwin Gwaze showered praise on the local community and corporate world for coming on board to support the institution’s vision.
“We have 100 players for this golf tournament. We had to take advantage of the presence of corporates for the ZITF. Our belief is that by staging this tournament, it allows us to spread our wings. As you know, Zimbabwe’s economy is pinned on mining. So as an institution we need to churn out quality graduates and that can happen if we have the required infrastructure. As you can see, technology is fast changing the way we do things,” said Gwaze.
The role played by the Zimbabwe School of Mines in the mining sector cannot be under estimated and Guest of Honour at the tournament, ZIMPLATS Managing Director, Stanley Segula said they had to partner the institution as it provides lifeline to their operations.
“ZSM is a strategic institution in the mining sector. As players in the mining sector we believe a fully functioning ZSM gives us a quality workforce hence we are here to support them since we fish from them,” he said.
Proceeds from the golf tournament are earmarked to retool the institution’s laboratory for learners to be exposed to new mining technologies.
